Rest in power, our beloved Nate Yuen

by the Sierra Club ʻohana | Reading time: 9 minutes

In August, we unexpectedly lost a beloved friend, leader, and nature enthusiast, Nate Yuen. He was a humble caring soul that made everyone he met feel loved and seen. By day, Nate was an accountant but in his free time he was a dedicated hiker, photographer and environmental justice activist, using his gift to share his manaʻo and passion for aloha ʻāina with the world.

Nate was a member of the Sierra Club since 1999 and an Executive Committee leader for the last six years. He held many seats, most recently as the Chapter Outings Chair, helping us to revamp our outings program following the pandemic. Over his years with the Sierra Club, Nate was involved in almost every campaign we’ve ever worked on, never hesitating to offer his support and a helping hand. Like many others, we miss him dearly every day. Below you will find a handful of notes from lives he touched during his time at the Sierra Club.

One of Nate’s longest standing contributions to the Sierra Club was his Nate’s Adventures articles in the Hawaiʻi Chapter’s Mālama i ka Honua newsletter. Here you can flip through our Mālama archives from 1999 (coincidentally the year he started Nate’s Adventures) through 2020 for his articles describing his latest adventures and observations. From 2021 on, the Mālama went digital and became the Mālama Monthly. Here you can find his monthly Nate’s Adventures.

In addition to the Sierra Club, Nate supported countless environmental and social justice organizations as well as many Native Hawaiian rights groups including — Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, The Nature Conservancy, Oʻahu Search and Rescue, Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi People’s Fund, E Ola Mau, Aha Aloha ʻĀina, Aloha ʻĀina Party, Kai ʻUla Nūpepa, Hui Aloha ʻĀina, Hawaiʻi Patriotic League, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance, Queen’s Hospital, Oʻahu Army Natural Resource Program, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Bishop Museum, Protect and Preserve Hawaiʻi, Division of Forest and Wildlife, Papa Ola Lokahi.

A celebration of life was held for Nate on September 17 at Sea Life Park. Over 300 people attended to honor Nate, showing just how far his loving spirit reached. It was a beautiful evening with his family and friends, sharing memories, laughs and tears, remembering all that Nate accomplished. If you missed it, you can watch the livestream of the celebration of life here as well as the beautiful slideshow tribute from that evening here.

Nate’s work has helped shape the conservation, Native Hawaiian rights, and environmental and social justice landscapes and he has left behind an incredible legacy that will continue to live on in many ways—some as simple as the hashtag #alohaʻāinalikenate and some as distinguished as an art gallery feature at Kahaluʻu Gallery, with countless things in between and many things yet to come.

The best way that we can honor Nate and continue his legacy is to mālama ʻāina and each other, and fight for what is right for the ʻāina and the people of Hawaiʻi.

Notes from Nate’s Sierra Club ʻohana

Nate made a significant contribution to the club, the greater community and our environment. His presence and gentle spirit will be sorely missed. May we give selflessly and live like Nate to make this world a better place for the next seven generations. - Kauʻi Pratt-Aquino, Chapter ExCom Chair

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Nate, so unassuming, I was so impressed and delighted when he came to the service work that I set up May 30 at Wāwāmalu Beach—what a treasure—miss him so much. - Reese Liggett, Oʻahu outings leader

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A few years ago I remember commenting on Nate's Facebook photographs "Please, take me with you!". I imagine I was not alone in that wish... Fortunately he did and we became very close friends, hiking every weekend for that last few years. What a joy and an honor it has been to spend time with him. Nate Yuen brought so many of us to the special places in Hawaii were native plants and animals still survive in person and through his pictures and "Nate’s Adventures". He also shared ways to get involved in protecting and restoring the wai, the aina.

Something that was very dear to his heart was that the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi needed to secure funding to continue the invaluable work we do for the coming years. He and I worked on the Awards ceremony for David Henkin back in May which not only honored one of our foremost environmental (and personal) heroes but raised some money for the fund. We had high hopes of companies and individuals handing over loads of cash and pledging to give monthly donations. "Riding the wave of Red Hill" is how we coined it. If people didn't give now, after the years that Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi had tried to stop these leaks from happening and have the tanks shut down, what would make them give? Seriously?

In Nate's memory, please engage as deeply as you can in funding invaluable work regarding Red Hill, Maui water and so many other projects, preferably monthly. We are also working on a way to have his images used to fundraise. You might ask yourself, why would she use this opportunity to ask for money. This is absolutely what Nate would have wanted. I miss you friend. Thank you for everything. - Angela Huntemer, Oʻahu Group ExCom member

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We have lost a dear friend! I met Nate when he joined my Sierra Club hike on Lekeke years ago, and it was great to have him with us, although a bit intimidating too. He was a superbly talented photographer. He was also soft-spoken and exuded a quiet warmth and strength. Last year, I lost my sweet son, Jesse and I was lost myself. Nate and another good friend, Angela, offered to be with me on a hike. We met, and Nate gave me the warmest bear hug I've had in a long time. And then I got another hug from Angela. Simply that! So many of us don't know what to do for those of us left behind. Just be present. And offer a hike. - Colleen Soares, Oʻahu outings leader

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It is impossible to write an adequate tribute to Nate. I appreciated his thoughtful input on the Political Committee and his efforts bringing the wonders of Hawaiʻi to so many in the Mālama and on Facebook. His extensive knowledge and love for Hawaiʻi educated me and raised my spirits. Nate was a true gift. - Cory Harden, Hawai’i Island Group ExCom

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Nate brought a full intellectual commitment. He was from all appearances always prepared. He was an incredible listener, and did that rare thing in our era of allowing himself to see another’s view, and sometimes adopting it when it made sense. He also had no problem speaking for a point of view that was in the minority, and didn’t shy (as many leaders do) from being the tiebreaker on a vote. Added to all his other qualities, his passing is a deeply felt loss, one we will notice in the days, months, and years to come. - Jonathan Scheuer, Chapter Political Committee Chair

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Nate was one of the first people I met through the Sierra Club. He helped inspire my passion for native plants: we would have long conversations about his photos, where to find a particular plant, and various hiking trails. But he’d never let a conversation be one-sided. He’d always ask how I was doing, how my family was doing, etc. And they weren’t formulaic questions, but rather a genuine curiosity and interest in others.

I think that was the “magic” of Nate. Despite his impressive knowledge, he never stopped trying to learn more. He was genuinely caring about and interested in others, and it showed in his every act. I regret that my kids won’t get to know him as they grow up, but I hope to teach them some of his passion for hiking, caring for others, and learning the cultural and environmental history of every trail. - Robert Harris, former Hawaiʻi Chapter Director

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Nate always had the calmest and friendliest demeanor. I loved his presence in our ExCom meetings and his contributions to our environment through his photography and his activism with Sierra Club and others. His work and energy made our community and planet a better place. I’ve been amazed at how many different people knew Nate either personally or through his photography and how he touched so many lives in such positive ways. He will be missed. - Doorae Shin, former Hawaiʻi Chapter ExCom member

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Since the onset of emphysema I am no longer able to hike or explore Hawaiʻi’s amazing outdoors. This came after many years of leading Sierra Club hikes and three day holiday weekend trips to other islands. Nate Yuen’s Facebook posts became  very precious to me as they offered a glimpse of Hawaii’s marvelous outdoors. So I was very saddened to learn of his tragic and untimely death. I am so grateful to those who have been posting his photos on Facebook since then. Nate was an excellent photographer, and an enthusiastic hiker and outdoors person. He loved Hawaiʻi’s outdoors as I did. I am so fortunate to have know him all these years. - Annette Kaʻohelauliʻi, former outings leader

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The thing about Nate is he is just a regular guy. Not a boss or a president, not the head of anything. Instead he chose to operate as the hands of so many things. He was always there whenever he was needed, ready to do whatever he could to help. And based on the overwhelming outpouring of love for Nate from so many different communities, it is clear that Nate was always there for a lot of us. It amazes me to think of all the different communities he stood in solidarity with, as a regular guy ready to help with whatever is needed – pull weeds, set up tables, talk through a terrible injustice, find the right path going forward. He was so good at the lovingly uncomfortable conversation, granting people endless opportunity to grow and evolve.

Only now that he is gone is it easier to see how much of a pillar he was in so many lives. Like a human pollinator, Nate’s love and attention kept our communities blooming.

It seems Nate found his love language, and how lucky for all of us, it was lending a hand to whomever needed it. I miss hearing Nate’s voice, enjoying his deliciously rejuvenating hugs. But I still feel Nate in the love that flows between all of us who called him friend and family.

I hope we can continue to share in the love that Nate seeded among all of us, that we can keep our many communities interconnected. It would be a great way to honor the beauty of Nate’s influence in our lives by practicing to be as he was, a helping hand for each other's communities. - Ikaika Hussey, Oʻahu Group member and Marti Townsend, former Hawaiʻi Chapter Director